Aging

I told myself that writing anything related to Covid is essentially repeating what has already been put into print. So, here I am doing both--a short note from me and a well written opinion by @stephenpollard. During these months, I…

The Hastings Center is the oldest independent, nonpartisan, interdisciplinary research institute of its kind in the world. The author’s approach regarding our responsibility in a pandemic is frequently referenced as the “fair Innings” argument. Elders have had more “innings” in…

During the holidays, there’s a prevailing sense that everyone is living a Hallmark movie with the ideal family and with perfect celebrations. But this is far from the truth. The US is experiencing an epidemic of loneliness with some labeling…

The call from the nursing home came at 8 on Wednesday morning. Mom was not getting up for breakfast. Mom was always dressed, with make-up on by 6:30. I told the caller I had a 2-hour drive but was leaving…

What happens when you make a promise to yourself and to your mother “I will never…put you in a nursing home?” Does life get in the way of those plans and promises? I posit that it does, and painfully so.…

July 2017 report published by the Population Research Bureau provides both good and bad news about our aging society and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementias. It is undeniable that the absolute number of Americans with dementia is increasing,…

It’s a hidden killer of the elderly and a serious public health challenge, as loneliness is causing widespread declines in physical and cognitive capacity. Loneliness plagues older women especially, because they are more likely to outlive their male loved ones.…

In 2014, 240 million opioid prescriptions were written — enough to give every American adult their own bottle. Two years later, 64,000 people died from drug overdose with the bulk of those from fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, prescription opioids and…